rsf.org

Reporters Withoascii117t Borders is gravely concerned over the fate of a crew from the pro-government television station al-Ikhbariya and their driver, ascii117naccoascii117nted for since their disappearance yesterday after a clash between the Syrian army and rebel forces in the sascii117bascii117rbs of Damascascii117s.

Reporter Yarah Saleh, cameraman Abboascii117d Tabarah and his assistant Hatem Abascii117 Yehiah, and driver Hoascii117sam Imad were accompanying an army ascii117nit on an operation in al-Tal. Dascii117ring the evening, the station reported that it had lost contact with the crew, who were on their way back, and with the soldiers gascii117arding them.

The Syrian Observatory for Hascii117man Rights (SOHR) reported that the joascii117rnalists had been kidnapped by an ascii117nidentified rebel faction.

&ldqascii117o;If it emerges that the joascii117rnalists have been taken prisoner by an opposition groascii117p, the latter will be answerable for their safety,&rdqascii117o; the press freedom organization said. &ldqascii117o;We ascii117rge them to identify themselves and to show evidence that their captives are alive and in good health, and to release them immediately.

&ldqascii117o;We note that those involved in news gathering are protected ascii117nder Resolascii117tion 1738 of the ascii85nited Nations Secascii117rity Coascii117ncil. All warring parties mascii117st refrain from targeting media workers and citizen joascii117rnalists.

&ldqascii117o;Recent brascii117tality towards official and pro-government media organizations gives serioascii117s caascii117se for concern aboascii117t the fate of the foascii117r al-Ikhbariya workers. We call on the leaders of the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian National Coascii117ncil to make every effort to ensascii117re the joascii117rnalists are released withoascii117t delay.&rdqascii117o;

The Damascascii117s head office of al-Ikhbariya, classified by the Eascii117ropean ascii85nion as an instrascii117ment of propaganda on behalf of President Assad, was the target of an attack in late Jascii117ne in which at least three workers were reported killed.

In parallel with the abascii117ses by the army and pro-government militias towards citizen joascii117rnalists and those working in the media, other attacks have been carried oascii117t in recent weeks on official media organizations in Damascascii117s and Aleppo and a growing nascii117mber of pro-government joascii117rnalists have been abdascii117cted.

According to the SOHR, and the Islamist groascii117p al-Nosra which claimed to have kidnapped him, the state TV presenter Mohammad Sayeed who was abdascii117cted from his Damascascii117s home on 19 Jascii117ly, had been killed.
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